Yes security sect reforms are a must if there is to be free elections. What I find infuriating about Tsvangirai is why he has done nothing on the matter for the last two years. Thank God President Zuma has taken this up; still there is a limit to what even he can achieve in the few months before elections.
President Zuma faces three main challenges; the biggest and immediate challenge is time. The writing of the new constitution has taken over two years already and there is still little to show for because Zanu PF kept throwing spanners in the works. It suited the party to do so. Now that the party has decided to have fresh elections this year, the nation will be whipped into a stampede to make sure that happens. The party does not want to see any democratic reforms pushed through and making sure there is no time is one way to ensure they achieve this.
Second, whatever reforms President Zuma force the three parties to sign to in the roadmap have a snowball in hell chance they will not be honoured on the ground; particularly when they can not be enforced by law. Mugabe will see to it that any proposed laws threatening his dictatorial powers are kicked into the tall grass!
Last but by no means least; no nation can hope to have peace and to prosper when those entrusted with the duty of keeping law and order and themselves guilty of breaking the law. The rule of law is the foundation of peace, justice, freedom, liberty, economic prosperity; all the good things we all seek in life! Zanu PF has used all manner of ways to coerce and corrupt our people into doing things they know are wrong and are damaging to the common interest including their own person interest. The overwhelming majority in the Police, Army, etc have suffered greatly from the madness of this Mugabe dictatorship as have the rest of us.
The Police Officers and the Soldiers, deployed throughout the country, to intimidate, rape and murder know that it is Mugabe and his cronies who stand to gain from all this; they are not stupid. They have allowed themselves to be a key part of this madness because no one has yet presented to them an alternative vision of Zimbabwe freed of this madness.
Waving some piece of paper signed by some up starts in Cape Town saying a Police Officer must enforce the law regardless of political affiliation will not be enough to restore law and order. To win this war, there has to be boots on the ground to sell the democratic Zimbabwe brand. It is not a hard sell, God knows it sells itself, and yet MDC, who should have been selling it, have failed miserably to do so. Can not see what President Zuma can do on this one.
Reforming Zimbabwe’s Police and Army are a must for democratic elections but, sadly, that is not going to happen; with Mugabe determined to have elections this year, it is a bridge too far!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Mugabe's arrogance has force Zuma to demand free elections - still Mugabe has the trump card!
Everyone can see there can not be free and fair elections in Zimbabwe in the current environment. This is so not because the nation has not been given the time to create the right political environment and hence the call for elections to be post pone to next year. This GNU has had over two years already to prepare for fresh elections and the political environment is worse now than ever. Yes the nation has no money but there is no cause to believe its financial position will any better next year.
We are in this situation because there was no political will to create an environment in which there could be free elections. It is not in Mugabe's interest to do so and Tsvangirai lacked the common sense to push for meaningful reform.
SADC, particularly President Zuma’s kid-glove handling of Mugabe has been pathetic. The Zimbabwean tyrant has repaid the favour by poking his finger right into President Zuma’s eye. Well that definitely did hurt and the South Africans have since taken off the kid-gloves. President Zuma’s name is mud – rightly so too - if he can not deliver free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
At last President Zuma has finally decided to take Mugabe on. Game on!
Yes the elections must be moved to 2012 or better still 2013. The South Africans will need all the time to push Mugabe to carryout the necessary reforms.
Mugabe will be more determined than ever to resist all democratic reforms because free elections will mean regime change. He can not stand that! His game plan now is to accelerate the writing of the new constitution, hold the referendum and then fresh elections; all before the end of the year! The stampede this will cause will force his critics’ eyes off democratic reforms and with the new constitution and referendum done and dusted President Zuma will have no reason to delay holding elections.
If the worst comes to the worst Mugabe can always withdraw Zanu PF from the GNU sighting lack of progress on lifting of the sanctions, for example. That would trigger elections; the GPA clearly stated that the GNU will collapse if one of the three parties withdrew.
The game is on but it seems Mugabe still holds all the trump cards!
We are in this situation because there was no political will to create an environment in which there could be free elections. It is not in Mugabe's interest to do so and Tsvangirai lacked the common sense to push for meaningful reform.
SADC, particularly President Zuma’s kid-glove handling of Mugabe has been pathetic. The Zimbabwean tyrant has repaid the favour by poking his finger right into President Zuma’s eye. Well that definitely did hurt and the South Africans have since taken off the kid-gloves. President Zuma’s name is mud – rightly so too - if he can not deliver free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
At last President Zuma has finally decided to take Mugabe on. Game on!
Yes the elections must be moved to 2012 or better still 2013. The South Africans will need all the time to push Mugabe to carryout the necessary reforms.
Mugabe will be more determined than ever to resist all democratic reforms because free elections will mean regime change. He can not stand that! His game plan now is to accelerate the writing of the new constitution, hold the referendum and then fresh elections; all before the end of the year! The stampede this will cause will force his critics’ eyes off democratic reforms and with the new constitution and referendum done and dusted President Zuma will have no reason to delay holding elections.
If the worst comes to the worst Mugabe can always withdraw Zanu PF from the GNU sighting lack of progress on lifting of the sanctions, for example. That would trigger elections; the GPA clearly stated that the GNU will collapse if one of the three parties withdrew.
The game is on but it seems Mugabe still holds all the trump cards!
Monday, 9 May 2011
Tsvangirai found GPA "frustrating" - it the people it a complete disaster!
“It is the most frustrating experience of my life to have to negotiate with somebody who lost an election, and then forced to negotiate an arrangement where the loser comes through the window in order to claim the same rights like somebody who has won,” Tsvangirai has admitted.
For the people of Zimbabwe, who have bore the brand of your stupidity, Mr Tsvangirai it has been a complete disaster. Many people have lost their lives to get Mugabe out of office and, by your simple act of signing the GPA – frustrating or not – you let Mugabe back into office by the back door. The signing of the GPA by Tsvangirai was the single most disastrous act in Zimbabwe’s history. After the sham 2008 presidential run-off Mugabe was on the hook; the whole world refused to recognise him as “legitimate” head of state. But by signing the GPA Tsvangirai got the ruthless dictator and murderer off the hook!
Yes the country has enjoyed some degree peace and economic stability for the last three years but at what price? The dictator has used the time to reorganise his thugs, most of whom are now on full civil service pay to coerce the Police, Army and CIO into taking playing an active part in the political violence and lawlessness to promote Mugabe and Zanu PF’s struggle on power; to build a war chest from the sale of diamonds looted from Marange; etc. Like it or not Mugabe has had his “Lazarus Moment” as Jason Moyo of Mail and Guardian so aptly described it.
What would have happened if Tsvangirai had refused to enter into this shotgun marriage of convenience? The nation would have had to hold fresh free and fair elections which Mugabe have lost – the dictator knew he could never win free and fair elections. In short Mugabe would have been finally buried politically and not brought back from the died as has happened! The politics of fear, repression and murder would have been buried with him. And there will be peace, freedom and justice at long last.
With Mugabe and his dictatorship out of the way and the nation finally free to act and end the lawlessness, take away the idle farms and all the other resources looted by Mugabe and his cronies and put them all back into full productive use, etc; the nation would be on its way to full economic recovery.
The GPA has allowed the political violence to die down compared to what was happening before the run-off election but the threat of it all coming back has remained hanging over the nation’s head. And on the economic front the empty shops have filled with goods – imported goods. The country’s industries have continued to close down and Mugabe’s continued anti-West rhetoric has continued to scare away would be investors. Unemployment has remained stubbornly high, 80% plus, throughout and basic services like health and education which had all but collapsed by 2008 had hardly functioning for lack of funds.
Of course, whatever little political and economic gains GPA had brought will all be wiped out as the nation falls back in the tight grip of the dictatorship.
“But I think you reach a stage where, given the level of collapse, you may have to forego, whether you have won or not and say what is the best solution for the people,” was Tsvangirai’s feeble excuse. This is more than spin, he actually believes in this nonsense!
Mugabe’s excuse for destroying the nation’s economy and for his barbaric denial of the people’s rights and dignity to satisfy his greed for wealth and power is that it was all done to protecting the country’s “independence and sovereignty”. When Mugabe offered Tsvangirai the chance to be Prime Minister – (it was not for the dictator to give offer but a simpleton like Tsvangirai did not appreciate that) even when it was clear there was to be no real power and authority behind the position (again the simpleton did not see that) – was all too much for the later How can bringing back to life a ruthless dictator so that he can continue to torment rape and murder our people be “best for the people”?!
9999
Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa sought refuge behind black wheelie bins on Saturday as angry refugees and activists in South Africa disrupted a planned ZANU PF anti-sanctions rally, reports S W Radio Africa.
It is a great pity that it is not only Mugabe and Zanu PF who believe that thuggery is the only way of expressing one's point of view. MDC has the numbers on its side in SA and the party's supporters did not hesitate to use violence to silence Minister Mutasa. MDC is becoming more and more like Zanu PF as the party becomes more and more powerful politically. What we want is to end the cycle of violence and intolerance Mugabe fostered on the nation and have freedom, democracy and rule of law. We do not want to see one repressive regime replace by another repressive regime.
MDC’s “an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth mentality” will only result in Zimbabwe blind and toothless!
8888
Zimbabwe’s representative to the three main political parties in the GNU plus President Zuma’s facilitating team are meeting in Cape Town to find a road map to Zimbabwe’s political crisis. The issue of violence is proving to be one sticking point the other is the reform of Zimbabwe’s security organs; the Police, Army and CIO who have been playing any increasing role in instigating the violence. The top brass in these organs have publicly said they would not salute any political leaders with no liberation strangle record even if they did win elections.
So reform of the security organs to free them from the shackles tying them to Zanu PF is a must. To hang on to power Mugabe and Zanu PF can not afford to have law abiding Police, Army, CIO, etc. So the battle lines are drawn.
The people of Zimbabwe’s position are equally simple; they want reforms to restore their basic and fundamental right to have a meaningful say in the governance of the country freed from fear and violence. If their free vote should result in regime change so be; that should and must be accepted with no for apology or explanation!
If one accepts the security reforms will ensure the exercise fundamental rights and freedoms – and they are all fundamental and indivisible - what then is there to negotiate!
MDC’s position should be the same as that of the people but in the past the party has traded fundamental rights as readily as a fruit seller.
The Zanu PF negotiators have already been instructed by their party not to give an inch on security organ reforms.
“These puppets and their masters will not be allowed to reform something they did not form using the cover of the GPA negotiations under misplaced SADC facilitation which the UK government apparently wants to use to dictate regime change in the country,” wrote Professor Jonathan Moyo in local media.
Mugabe and Zanu PF’s position is simple enough; they will accept all reforms as long as they do not result in regime change at the end of the day. Any changes that will result in regime change is considered a western agenda and therefore not a violation of the people’s fundamental right. As far as Zanu PF is concerned the people of Zimbabwe would not possible seek regime change although the violence and abuse are all directed at the people and not the West.
No doubt Tsvangirai and President Zuma would give away some things to appease Mugabe – why else would one seek to divide things that are indivisible. At the end of the day Mugabe will take the concessions and demand more beside. As Professor Moyo rightly pointed out what ever is agreed by the negotiators is not enforced by a Court of Law because the negotiators do not have any legal power to pass laws in Zimbabwe. Not that there would have stopped Mugabe and Zanu PF in any way, they have always disregarded the law when it suited them to do so.
Mugabe is not interested in the twists and turns in the proposed road map what he has set in stone is its final destination – no regime change! Meanwhile Tsvangirai and President Zuma can amuse themselves drawing the roadmap as long the destination remains the same. Everyone knows the Mugabe dictatorship do a lot worse than calling those who dare cross swords with it “puppets”!
For the people of Zimbabwe, who have bore the brand of your stupidity, Mr Tsvangirai it has been a complete disaster. Many people have lost their lives to get Mugabe out of office and, by your simple act of signing the GPA – frustrating or not – you let Mugabe back into office by the back door. The signing of the GPA by Tsvangirai was the single most disastrous act in Zimbabwe’s history. After the sham 2008 presidential run-off Mugabe was on the hook; the whole world refused to recognise him as “legitimate” head of state. But by signing the GPA Tsvangirai got the ruthless dictator and murderer off the hook!
Yes the country has enjoyed some degree peace and economic stability for the last three years but at what price? The dictator has used the time to reorganise his thugs, most of whom are now on full civil service pay to coerce the Police, Army and CIO into taking playing an active part in the political violence and lawlessness to promote Mugabe and Zanu PF’s struggle on power; to build a war chest from the sale of diamonds looted from Marange; etc. Like it or not Mugabe has had his “Lazarus Moment” as Jason Moyo of Mail and Guardian so aptly described it.
What would have happened if Tsvangirai had refused to enter into this shotgun marriage of convenience? The nation would have had to hold fresh free and fair elections which Mugabe have lost – the dictator knew he could never win free and fair elections. In short Mugabe would have been finally buried politically and not brought back from the died as has happened! The politics of fear, repression and murder would have been buried with him. And there will be peace, freedom and justice at long last.
With Mugabe and his dictatorship out of the way and the nation finally free to act and end the lawlessness, take away the idle farms and all the other resources looted by Mugabe and his cronies and put them all back into full productive use, etc; the nation would be on its way to full economic recovery.
The GPA has allowed the political violence to die down compared to what was happening before the run-off election but the threat of it all coming back has remained hanging over the nation’s head. And on the economic front the empty shops have filled with goods – imported goods. The country’s industries have continued to close down and Mugabe’s continued anti-West rhetoric has continued to scare away would be investors. Unemployment has remained stubbornly high, 80% plus, throughout and basic services like health and education which had all but collapsed by 2008 had hardly functioning for lack of funds.
Of course, whatever little political and economic gains GPA had brought will all be wiped out as the nation falls back in the tight grip of the dictatorship.
“But I think you reach a stage where, given the level of collapse, you may have to forego, whether you have won or not and say what is the best solution for the people,” was Tsvangirai’s feeble excuse. This is more than spin, he actually believes in this nonsense!
Mugabe’s excuse for destroying the nation’s economy and for his barbaric denial of the people’s rights and dignity to satisfy his greed for wealth and power is that it was all done to protecting the country’s “independence and sovereignty”. When Mugabe offered Tsvangirai the chance to be Prime Minister – (it was not for the dictator to give offer but a simpleton like Tsvangirai did not appreciate that) even when it was clear there was to be no real power and authority behind the position (again the simpleton did not see that) – was all too much for the later How can bringing back to life a ruthless dictator so that he can continue to torment rape and murder our people be “best for the people”?!
9999
Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mutasa sought refuge behind black wheelie bins on Saturday as angry refugees and activists in South Africa disrupted a planned ZANU PF anti-sanctions rally, reports S W Radio Africa.
It is a great pity that it is not only Mugabe and Zanu PF who believe that thuggery is the only way of expressing one's point of view. MDC has the numbers on its side in SA and the party's supporters did not hesitate to use violence to silence Minister Mutasa. MDC is becoming more and more like Zanu PF as the party becomes more and more powerful politically. What we want is to end the cycle of violence and intolerance Mugabe fostered on the nation and have freedom, democracy and rule of law. We do not want to see one repressive regime replace by another repressive regime.
MDC’s “an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth mentality” will only result in Zimbabwe blind and toothless!
8888
Zimbabwe’s representative to the three main political parties in the GNU plus President Zuma’s facilitating team are meeting in Cape Town to find a road map to Zimbabwe’s political crisis. The issue of violence is proving to be one sticking point the other is the reform of Zimbabwe’s security organs; the Police, Army and CIO who have been playing any increasing role in instigating the violence. The top brass in these organs have publicly said they would not salute any political leaders with no liberation strangle record even if they did win elections.
So reform of the security organs to free them from the shackles tying them to Zanu PF is a must. To hang on to power Mugabe and Zanu PF can not afford to have law abiding Police, Army, CIO, etc. So the battle lines are drawn.
The people of Zimbabwe’s position are equally simple; they want reforms to restore their basic and fundamental right to have a meaningful say in the governance of the country freed from fear and violence. If their free vote should result in regime change so be; that should and must be accepted with no for apology or explanation!
If one accepts the security reforms will ensure the exercise fundamental rights and freedoms – and they are all fundamental and indivisible - what then is there to negotiate!
MDC’s position should be the same as that of the people but in the past the party has traded fundamental rights as readily as a fruit seller.
The Zanu PF negotiators have already been instructed by their party not to give an inch on security organ reforms.
“These puppets and their masters will not be allowed to reform something they did not form using the cover of the GPA negotiations under misplaced SADC facilitation which the UK government apparently wants to use to dictate regime change in the country,” wrote Professor Jonathan Moyo in local media.
Mugabe and Zanu PF’s position is simple enough; they will accept all reforms as long as they do not result in regime change at the end of the day. Any changes that will result in regime change is considered a western agenda and therefore not a violation of the people’s fundamental right. As far as Zanu PF is concerned the people of Zimbabwe would not possible seek regime change although the violence and abuse are all directed at the people and not the West.
No doubt Tsvangirai and President Zuma would give away some things to appease Mugabe – why else would one seek to divide things that are indivisible. At the end of the day Mugabe will take the concessions and demand more beside. As Professor Moyo rightly pointed out what ever is agreed by the negotiators is not enforced by a Court of Law because the negotiators do not have any legal power to pass laws in Zimbabwe. Not that there would have stopped Mugabe and Zanu PF in any way, they have always disregarded the law when it suited them to do so.
Mugabe is not interested in the twists and turns in the proposed road map what he has set in stone is its final destination – no regime change! Meanwhile Tsvangirai and President Zuma can amuse themselves drawing the roadmap as long the destination remains the same. Everyone knows the Mugabe dictatorship do a lot worse than calling those who dare cross swords with it “puppets”!
Friday, 6 May 2011
MDC in scramble to find post for deposed Mudzuri - just as Mugabe would have done!
“The sources said the party was worried that keeping Mudzuri in the political wilderness would send the wrong message to party members as he held a significant position in the party and that his loss should not be construed to mean that he is now dead and buried,” reported the Daily News.
According to the report, MDC are proposing appointing Mudzuri to the party’s National Executive Committee.
In Africa, it seems once someone is elected into any position of power and authority they immediately go through some form of metamorphosis; transforming them from the ugly caterpillar munching leaves and crawling on its belly into the drop-down-gorgeous butterfly feeding on sweet nectar and honey and floats around gracefully and effortlessly on rainbow wings. To these politicians once a Minister, Prime Minister or President the idea of going back to being an ordinary citizen is as unthinkable as a butterfly going back to being a caterpillar again!
There can be no doubt that political leaders like Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo genuinely shared with the rest of the black majority the sense of injustice and frustration at the exploitation and oppression of backs by the white colonial government. Like the rest of the population the leaders hunger for freedom and dignity for all. But unlike the masses, these leaders were positioning themselves, long before the country finally gained its independence, to takeover power. And nothing, absolutely nothing was to be allowed to stand in their way; not even the basic freedoms and rights of the people, not even the right to life.
The fighting for power intensified after independence with those in power using the State machinery as an extension of the party to be used to promote and protect party interest instead of the common national interests.
Of course no leader in the world wants to be criticised and much less lose power. When the Conservative Party decided to replace Mrs Margret Thatcher as its leader and Prime Minister, the Iron Lady fought like a deranged cat. She did not want to go. The fact that she had been in the top job for an unprecedented 11 years already at the time, made no difference. She did not want to go; period. In democratic countries like the UK leaders become “first amongst equals”, the caterpillar to eat the tender shots and with the brightest colours; yes. But the most important thing is they remain caterpillars like the rest of the populous. They do not lose their common touch. So when they lose power; it is not as shocking to the system as a butterfly turning back into a caterpillar!
In Africa the leaders and the commoners are the same genetically just as caterpillars and butterfly are the same but to compare the extravagant lifestyles of those in power to the daily drudgery of the commoners the differences between them could not be more striking. The ruling elite have commandeering the nation’s entire wealth and resources for their exclusive use and benefit; they have everything and the rest of the population have absolutely nothing. The lack of competition and debate in the one-party state system was bound to result in the criminal waste of resources, brutal repression and tragic human misery as seen in Zimbabwe today.
One-party-dictatorship appealed to leaders like Mugabe because it was the only system that gave me security of tenure in State House. He and his Zanu PF friends have been in power for over thirty years. So yes; as far as keeping Mugabe and his friends in power the dictatorship has worked. The price Mugabe has had to pay for remaining the top dog was the solid rock guarantees he gave to those who would otherwise have challenged him for the position that their respective leadership position was assurance. Except for the unlucky few like Edgar Tekere most of Zanu PF’s founding fathers have too been Minister or some such powerful position for donkey-years. He has been quick to create new posts and super numeral posts in the bloated army, civil service, local government, State owned companies, etc to accommodate the every expanding ruling elite. These individual were appointed regardless of merit or, worse still, whether or not there was really anything for them to do. It was a recipe for certain economic disaster because of the criminal waste of material and human resources through mismanagement and corruption. These two evil got worse and worse as the nation was forced to dig deeper into its reserve to try and satisfy the ever demanding and expanding ruling elite. In 2000, Mugabe short of anything else of value to give his cronies instigated the looting of the white owned farms precipitating the country’s economic melt down!
All this scramble by MDC to create a spare for the deposed Elias Mudzuri, the only one of the MDC’s founding fathers to have lost his leadership position after the party’s congress is exactly what Mugabe has been doing all these years and, worse still, it is exactly what stifled meaningful debate and competition within the country and the party denying the nation the political dynamism to prevent the political rot that destroyed Zimbabwe. Of course the scramble is necessary as it will assure the rest of the leaders in MDC that their on position on the feeding trough is secure – including Tsvangirai’s own position which explains why they all allowed him to remain leader beyond the two terms stipulated by the party’s own constitution.
It is this totally misplaced brotherly love by African leaders for a follow leader that made AU and SADC leaders rally behind tyrants like Mugabe again and again.
Finding Mudzuri a position within MDC may help the later maintain some semblance of the Minister lifestyle he had tasted and clearly enjoyed. What this move will do is make it near impossible for MDC to remove any deadwood within the party now or in the future. What the people of Zimbabwe need desperately is a way out of the hell-hole Mugabe landed us. An MDC full of deadwood is certainly not going to get us out of here!
9999
And what has Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai done in the last three years since the sham elections of 2008 to ensure the violence that characterise the elections are not repeated? Sadly, nothing! We all know the “a modicum of political and economic stabilisation” he is talking about will disappear like mist once Mugabe's thugs, already deployed throughout the country, step up their terror campaign!
According to the report, MDC are proposing appointing Mudzuri to the party’s National Executive Committee.
In Africa, it seems once someone is elected into any position of power and authority they immediately go through some form of metamorphosis; transforming them from the ugly caterpillar munching leaves and crawling on its belly into the drop-down-gorgeous butterfly feeding on sweet nectar and honey and floats around gracefully and effortlessly on rainbow wings. To these politicians once a Minister, Prime Minister or President the idea of going back to being an ordinary citizen is as unthinkable as a butterfly going back to being a caterpillar again!
There can be no doubt that political leaders like Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo genuinely shared with the rest of the black majority the sense of injustice and frustration at the exploitation and oppression of backs by the white colonial government. Like the rest of the population the leaders hunger for freedom and dignity for all. But unlike the masses, these leaders were positioning themselves, long before the country finally gained its independence, to takeover power. And nothing, absolutely nothing was to be allowed to stand in their way; not even the basic freedoms and rights of the people, not even the right to life.
The fighting for power intensified after independence with those in power using the State machinery as an extension of the party to be used to promote and protect party interest instead of the common national interests.
Of course no leader in the world wants to be criticised and much less lose power. When the Conservative Party decided to replace Mrs Margret Thatcher as its leader and Prime Minister, the Iron Lady fought like a deranged cat. She did not want to go. The fact that she had been in the top job for an unprecedented 11 years already at the time, made no difference. She did not want to go; period. In democratic countries like the UK leaders become “first amongst equals”, the caterpillar to eat the tender shots and with the brightest colours; yes. But the most important thing is they remain caterpillars like the rest of the populous. They do not lose their common touch. So when they lose power; it is not as shocking to the system as a butterfly turning back into a caterpillar!
In Africa the leaders and the commoners are the same genetically just as caterpillars and butterfly are the same but to compare the extravagant lifestyles of those in power to the daily drudgery of the commoners the differences between them could not be more striking. The ruling elite have commandeering the nation’s entire wealth and resources for their exclusive use and benefit; they have everything and the rest of the population have absolutely nothing. The lack of competition and debate in the one-party state system was bound to result in the criminal waste of resources, brutal repression and tragic human misery as seen in Zimbabwe today.
One-party-dictatorship appealed to leaders like Mugabe because it was the only system that gave me security of tenure in State House. He and his Zanu PF friends have been in power for over thirty years. So yes; as far as keeping Mugabe and his friends in power the dictatorship has worked. The price Mugabe has had to pay for remaining the top dog was the solid rock guarantees he gave to those who would otherwise have challenged him for the position that their respective leadership position was assurance. Except for the unlucky few like Edgar Tekere most of Zanu PF’s founding fathers have too been Minister or some such powerful position for donkey-years. He has been quick to create new posts and super numeral posts in the bloated army, civil service, local government, State owned companies, etc to accommodate the every expanding ruling elite. These individual were appointed regardless of merit or, worse still, whether or not there was really anything for them to do. It was a recipe for certain economic disaster because of the criminal waste of material and human resources through mismanagement and corruption. These two evil got worse and worse as the nation was forced to dig deeper into its reserve to try and satisfy the ever demanding and expanding ruling elite. In 2000, Mugabe short of anything else of value to give his cronies instigated the looting of the white owned farms precipitating the country’s economic melt down!
All this scramble by MDC to create a spare for the deposed Elias Mudzuri, the only one of the MDC’s founding fathers to have lost his leadership position after the party’s congress is exactly what Mugabe has been doing all these years and, worse still, it is exactly what stifled meaningful debate and competition within the country and the party denying the nation the political dynamism to prevent the political rot that destroyed Zimbabwe. Of course the scramble is necessary as it will assure the rest of the leaders in MDC that their on position on the feeding trough is secure – including Tsvangirai’s own position which explains why they all allowed him to remain leader beyond the two terms stipulated by the party’s own constitution.
It is this totally misplaced brotherly love by African leaders for a follow leader that made AU and SADC leaders rally behind tyrants like Mugabe again and again.
Finding Mudzuri a position within MDC may help the later maintain some semblance of the Minister lifestyle he had tasted and clearly enjoyed. What this move will do is make it near impossible for MDC to remove any deadwood within the party now or in the future. What the people of Zimbabwe need desperately is a way out of the hell-hole Mugabe landed us. An MDC full of deadwood is certainly not going to get us out of here!
9999
And what has Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai done in the last three years since the sham elections of 2008 to ensure the violence that characterise the elections are not repeated? Sadly, nothing! We all know the “a modicum of political and economic stabilisation” he is talking about will disappear like mist once Mugabe's thugs, already deployed throughout the country, step up their terror campaign!
Thursday, 5 May 2011
MDC disregarded party law restricting leaders to two terms - trust them not to do the same again!
Another interesting "Question Time" yesterday, Lance (S W Radio Africa). I listened to it twice, it was that good!
I do not know whether you will have Mr Nelson Chamisa as you guest again next week. I would have wanted him to answer the following questions:
1) Does MDC the party of excellence endorse the now universally accepted position that the State President should serve a maximum of two teams?
2) Was it out of fear of leaders clinging to power, for Mugabe 30 years as Head of government and over 40 years as first secretary of Zanu PF, that MDC stipulated the same fixed maximum teams for leaders in its party constitution?
3) It was you, Mr Chamisa, who justified the disregard of the party's constitution, the party's supreme law, to limit the number of terms leaders should serve before the Congress was even held by claiming MDC had "the winning team"! And long behold the same team that has led MDC for the last ten years was retained largely untouched on 1 st May 2011 to lead for a further five, ten, twenty years - who knows! Why should the nation believe MDC not disregard the country's constitution demanding that leaders serve a fixed maximum term too; after all the party will still be led by the same "winning team"?
MDC claim they are a party of excellence. Nothing could be further from the truth. The party has made some unbelievable blunders the worst one of which was getting Mugabe off the hook by entering into this GNU. USA Ambassador Chris Dell was right; Tsvangirai is a "flawed and indecisive character". MDC had a chance to elect some quality leaders during its Congress in Bulawayo but once again the members fluffed it. By re-electing the same mediocre leaders the party is doomed to go down the same path of failure and waste and, as happened with Mugabe and Zanu PF, ruthless repression so many leaders and political parties in Africa have travelled. The challenge before us all now is to ensure that MDC does not take the nation down with it!
I do not know whether you will have Mr Nelson Chamisa as you guest again next week. I would have wanted him to answer the following questions:
1) Does MDC the party of excellence endorse the now universally accepted position that the State President should serve a maximum of two teams?
2) Was it out of fear of leaders clinging to power, for Mugabe 30 years as Head of government and over 40 years as first secretary of Zanu PF, that MDC stipulated the same fixed maximum teams for leaders in its party constitution?
3) It was you, Mr Chamisa, who justified the disregard of the party's constitution, the party's supreme law, to limit the number of terms leaders should serve before the Congress was even held by claiming MDC had "the winning team"! And long behold the same team that has led MDC for the last ten years was retained largely untouched on 1 st May 2011 to lead for a further five, ten, twenty years - who knows! Why should the nation believe MDC not disregard the country's constitution demanding that leaders serve a fixed maximum term too; after all the party will still be led by the same "winning team"?
MDC claim they are a party of excellence. Nothing could be further from the truth. The party has made some unbelievable blunders the worst one of which was getting Mugabe off the hook by entering into this GNU. USA Ambassador Chris Dell was right; Tsvangirai is a "flawed and indecisive character". MDC had a chance to elect some quality leaders during its Congress in Bulawayo but once again the members fluffed it. By re-electing the same mediocre leaders the party is doomed to go down the same path of failure and waste and, as happened with Mugabe and Zanu PF, ruthless repression so many leaders and political parties in Africa have travelled. The challenge before us all now is to ensure that MDC does not take the nation down with it!
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
MDC chose Tsvangirai for party leader: Voters have the blunderer for President!
MDC have just completed its third party congress which saw the re-election of ALL the party’s top leaders except for Mr Elias Mudzuri. For a party than has blundered, dithered and made a complete mess of things ever since it emerged of the Zimbabwe political scene twelve years ago; one had hope that party would seize this opportunity to renew and reinvigorate itself by electing some quality leaders. So why did MDC decide to re-elect Morgan Tsvangirai a man described by former USA Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Chris Dell, described as “flawed and indecisive”?
The most immediate answer would have to be that the MDC party membership view Tsvangirai as a very complete leader and have never seen any of the blunders and shortcomings the rest of the world is talking about. These individual have refused to see the signing of GPA which allowed Mugabe back into power through the back door for no political gain for MDC and at great price to the nation at large for the tragic blunder it is. They console themselves with the excuse that Tsvangirai was forced to go down this route.
The same individuals are quick to point out to the shops, previous empty, now full of goods and the comparative economic stability of the last two years and they credit MDC for it all. The single most important event that has brought the greatest economic change in Zimbabwe has to be the scrapping of the Zimbabwe dollar and it was Mugabe’s Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinemasa, who did that. Even if one credited MDC for all the economic benefits of the last three years; the fact remains that the much anticipated economic recovery and, of course the political stability have remained a pipe dream. For his part, Tsvangirai and a few of his MDC friends were appointed Prime Minister and into a few ministerial positions. None of these positions, as it turned, were to carry any really power and authority; Mugabe and JOC retained and exercised all the real power and authority.
So by signing the GPA Tsvangirai traded in the country’s real chance to end Mugabe’s dictatorial rule for misery economic gains and a few meaningless ministerial jobs. Of course we were short changed; anyone, especially those purporting MDC is a party of excellence”, can see that.
“Seek political power and the rest will follow!” advised Kwema Nkrumah, Ghana’s first post independence President.
Frankly MDC members who re-elected Tsvangirai and the rest of the mediocre MDC leadership even consider how badly the party had performed in the past. The performance or none performance of an individual is almost irrelevant indeed in Africa’s warped social culture being a mediocre performer is often a distinct advantage.
There are mediocre leaders like Simon Muzenda who were promoted far beyond their level of competency. Dictators like Mugabe like to surround themselves with such individuals because they are too dull to ever challenge their authority. Others, for the sake of keeping their position, have learnt to “sit” on their brain.
The greedy people can not think straight; they can not reason or think logically. Greedy is a deadly disease that kills brain cells and replace them with mud!
As a people, blacks do not like competition. Whilst other people welcome competition as the foolproof method of distilling the leaders, ideas, solution, etc every time. We view competition as divisive and so have again and again found ourselves being frog matched into hell. We have suffered but still said nothing. We would rather suffer and die than question the wisdom and sincerity of those leading us regardless of the overwhelming evidence of their competency and selfishness.
Of course they are those who will never see the benefit to society and to themselves of open debate and competition. The lens cap to their intellect has been super glued by ignorance, prejudice or greed.
Just as Zimbabweans to the last man, woman and child are now determined to limit the terms of President to two terms, free and fair elections, etc; we should insist that the same conditions should be extended to all political parties who want our vote. If this was adopted then the nation would not be facing this totally meaningless electoral madness of having to choose between a tyrant or a blunderer. We want neither!
9999
On Sunday 1 May 2011 Zanu PF militia burn down a village in Cashel Valley, in Chimanimani according to a report by SWA Radio Africa.
P M Morgan Tsvangirai has continued to ignore this issue of political violence and thus has done nothing to ensure it is stopped. For the last three years the violence has continued and will, no doubt, get really ugly come the elections. Tsvangirai is leading the nation straight into yet another blood bath - like sheep to the slaughter. And surprise, surprise MDC claim it is a party "of excellence" and they are ready to "govern" the country. This is a nightmare!
The most immediate answer would have to be that the MDC party membership view Tsvangirai as a very complete leader and have never seen any of the blunders and shortcomings the rest of the world is talking about. These individual have refused to see the signing of GPA which allowed Mugabe back into power through the back door for no political gain for MDC and at great price to the nation at large for the tragic blunder it is. They console themselves with the excuse that Tsvangirai was forced to go down this route.
The same individuals are quick to point out to the shops, previous empty, now full of goods and the comparative economic stability of the last two years and they credit MDC for it all. The single most important event that has brought the greatest economic change in Zimbabwe has to be the scrapping of the Zimbabwe dollar and it was Mugabe’s Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinemasa, who did that. Even if one credited MDC for all the economic benefits of the last three years; the fact remains that the much anticipated economic recovery and, of course the political stability have remained a pipe dream. For his part, Tsvangirai and a few of his MDC friends were appointed Prime Minister and into a few ministerial positions. None of these positions, as it turned, were to carry any really power and authority; Mugabe and JOC retained and exercised all the real power and authority.
So by signing the GPA Tsvangirai traded in the country’s real chance to end Mugabe’s dictatorial rule for misery economic gains and a few meaningless ministerial jobs. Of course we were short changed; anyone, especially those purporting MDC is a party of excellence”, can see that.
“Seek political power and the rest will follow!” advised Kwema Nkrumah, Ghana’s first post independence President.
Frankly MDC members who re-elected Tsvangirai and the rest of the mediocre MDC leadership even consider how badly the party had performed in the past. The performance or none performance of an individual is almost irrelevant indeed in Africa’s warped social culture being a mediocre performer is often a distinct advantage.
There are mediocre leaders like Simon Muzenda who were promoted far beyond their level of competency. Dictators like Mugabe like to surround themselves with such individuals because they are too dull to ever challenge their authority. Others, for the sake of keeping their position, have learnt to “sit” on their brain.
The greedy people can not think straight; they can not reason or think logically. Greedy is a deadly disease that kills brain cells and replace them with mud!
As a people, blacks do not like competition. Whilst other people welcome competition as the foolproof method of distilling the leaders, ideas, solution, etc every time. We view competition as divisive and so have again and again found ourselves being frog matched into hell. We have suffered but still said nothing. We would rather suffer and die than question the wisdom and sincerity of those leading us regardless of the overwhelming evidence of their competency and selfishness.
Of course they are those who will never see the benefit to society and to themselves of open debate and competition. The lens cap to their intellect has been super glued by ignorance, prejudice or greed.
Just as Zimbabweans to the last man, woman and child are now determined to limit the terms of President to two terms, free and fair elections, etc; we should insist that the same conditions should be extended to all political parties who want our vote. If this was adopted then the nation would not be facing this totally meaningless electoral madness of having to choose between a tyrant or a blunderer. We want neither!
9999
On Sunday 1 May 2011 Zanu PF militia burn down a village in Cashel Valley, in Chimanimani according to a report by SWA Radio Africa.
P M Morgan Tsvangirai has continued to ignore this issue of political violence and thus has done nothing to ensure it is stopped. For the last three years the violence has continued and will, no doubt, get really ugly come the elections. Tsvangirai is leading the nation straight into yet another blood bath - like sheep to the slaughter. And surprise, surprise MDC claim it is a party "of excellence" and they are ready to "govern" the country. This is a nightmare!
Monday, 2 May 2011
Tsvangirai promise democracy and 10% GDP growth rate - blunderer will never deliver anything.
Tsvangirai owes the people of Zimbabwe an apology for dragging the nation into this meaningless GNU that achieved absolutely nothing. Until the last few months he insisted the GNU was working; a blunder that has allowed Mugabe to have his "Lazarus moment", Jason Moyo of the Mail and Guardian called it.
And now that Mugabe has risen from the dead politically, Zimbabwe’s political future is as grim as ever. The threat of political violence remains as real today as it was in during the nightmare days of 2008 presidential run-off. Since then Tsvangirai should have left no stone unturned to ensure the country was spared of this scourge. He did nothing hoping it will all go away. Well, the scourge has become even more virulent.
Since 2008 Mugabe has been busy reorganising and strengthening his terror machine. His 2009 Zanu PF Congress passed a resolution committing the Police, Army and CIO to play a leading role in the political violence and lawlessness the only course of action the party has left to retain power and avoid the dreaded regime change. Mugabe has stubbornly refused to have public control and scrutiny of the diamond mining in Marange. He will, no doubt, use the wealth from the Marange diamonds to pay the party’s militia and War Vet – the party’s foot soldiers in its war of terror, rape and murder - and pay for all the other unsavoury activities to deny the people of Zimbabwe their democratic rights and hope.
7777
Here is the man who by his blundering incompetency allowed Mugabe back into State House through the back door and into years of misery and, God forbid, more blood shed. Instead of burying his face in shame has the impudence to talk of himself as a man of vision!
“I have a vision to create a society where the rule of law is paramount, a society where property rights are respected, a society where people enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of association and other rights guaranteed in our Constitution,” said Tsvangirai.
“It is only an MDC government that has capacity and support to grow this economy by about 10 percent every year,” promised Tsvangirai.
It has been Zimbabwe’s great misfortune and curse to have been ruled by a ruthless dictator for three decades. It would be unforgivable if this nation’s fate should be decided by blundering idiot! Tsvangirai will never deliver democracy and 10% GDP growth rate no more than Mugabe delivered freedom and mass prosperity – “gutsa ruzhinji”! Democracy was within his reach but failed dismally to deliver that was within ease reach. Zimbabweans must not be fooled by empty promises of a blunderer.
And now that Mugabe has risen from the dead politically, Zimbabwe’s political future is as grim as ever. The threat of political violence remains as real today as it was in during the nightmare days of 2008 presidential run-off. Since then Tsvangirai should have left no stone unturned to ensure the country was spared of this scourge. He did nothing hoping it will all go away. Well, the scourge has become even more virulent.
Since 2008 Mugabe has been busy reorganising and strengthening his terror machine. His 2009 Zanu PF Congress passed a resolution committing the Police, Army and CIO to play a leading role in the political violence and lawlessness the only course of action the party has left to retain power and avoid the dreaded regime change. Mugabe has stubbornly refused to have public control and scrutiny of the diamond mining in Marange. He will, no doubt, use the wealth from the Marange diamonds to pay the party’s militia and War Vet – the party’s foot soldiers in its war of terror, rape and murder - and pay for all the other unsavoury activities to deny the people of Zimbabwe their democratic rights and hope.
7777
Here is the man who by his blundering incompetency allowed Mugabe back into State House through the back door and into years of misery and, God forbid, more blood shed. Instead of burying his face in shame has the impudence to talk of himself as a man of vision!
“I have a vision to create a society where the rule of law is paramount, a society where property rights are respected, a society where people enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of association and other rights guaranteed in our Constitution,” said Tsvangirai.
“It is only an MDC government that has capacity and support to grow this economy by about 10 percent every year,” promised Tsvangirai.
It has been Zimbabwe’s great misfortune and curse to have been ruled by a ruthless dictator for three decades. It would be unforgivable if this nation’s fate should be decided by blundering idiot! Tsvangirai will never deliver democracy and 10% GDP growth rate no more than Mugabe delivered freedom and mass prosperity – “gutsa ruzhinji”! Democracy was within his reach but failed dismally to deliver that was within ease reach. Zimbabweans must not be fooled by empty promises of a blunderer.
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